Ground-wire connector.



F. E MGKENNA- GROUND WIRE CONNECTOR. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 23. 1908.

Patented Feb. 15, 1910.

FIG. 2

WI T/VESSEQ.

residing in Wauwatosa,

FRANCIS E. 'MCKENNA, 0F 'W'AUWATOSA WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALE TO HENRY B. BURR, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

GROUND-WIRE CONNECTOR.

arenas.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 23, 1908. Serial N 0. 464,083.

To all whom; it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANCIS E. MCKENNA, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in (iround-VVire Connectors, of which the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which are a part of this specification.

This invention has for its object to provide a convenient means for establishing a ground connection for telephone or other wiring systems by clamping upon water or gas pipes, which because of their extensive contact with the earth afford the most satisfactory and most accessible means with which connection can be made for this purpose.

Another object of this invention is to simplify such a ground wire connector to render it inexpensive while at the same time most durable and efiicient in use.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the ground wire connector herein claimed and all equivalents thereof.

Referring to the accompanying drawing in which like characters of reference indicate the same parts in the different views: Figure 1 is a view of a ground wire eonnelctor constructed in accordance with this invention applied to a pipe; Fig. 2 is a detail view of the flexible strip member thereof; and, Fig. 3 is a detail view of the two clamping plates thereof. a

In these drawings 10 indicates a thin flexible metal strip which has an opening at one end to receive a bolt 11, the strip bending at an angle at the edge of the nut 12 thereof as shown in Fig. 1 and surrounding the metal pipe 13 or other means for a tl'ording the ground connection. The free end of the strip 10 is passed through a triangular shaped slot in a clamping plate 14: and then between said clamping plate and another clamping plate 15, both of which are upon the bolt 11 and the latter engaged by the head of the bolt. In this ositlon of the parts the tightening of the b0 t by turning it in its nut causes the clamping plates 14: and 15 to grip the free end of the strip between them while the nut is drawn up to tighten the band upon the pipe. The clamplilg plates .14 and 15 are ermitted to assume t to angular position with relation to the bolt 11 as shown in Fig.1 upon the bolt being tightened, by the rounded head of thebolt entering the transverse slot in the outside clamping plate 15. By reason of this slanting position of the clamping plates 14 and 15 they are permitted to cooperate with the pipe in forming a double clamp for preventing the slippage of the flexible stri one biting action upon the strip being produced between the edge of ipe and another biting eifect being produced upon the stri between the faces of the two plates 14 an 15. With this double biting effect 011 opposite sides of the sharp bend of the strip, the plate 1a being made thinner than the plate 15 to make the bend as sharp as possible, there is no likelihood of the strip slipping and it is compelled to tighten upon the pipe to secure a firm and eflicient contact therewith when the bolt is turned. The end of the bolt may be slightly upset to prevent the parts being lost therefrom while being carried from place to place.

The ground wire connector of this invention is quickly and easily applied, it being only necessary to pass the flexible strip around the pipe or other object affording the ground connection and then drawing it through the slot of plate-14 as tightly as may be done by hand, making the sharp bend therein where it passes through the slot of plate 14, and then the bolt is turned so that the clamping plates are drawn together to clamp the end of the flexible strip between them and between the plate 14 and the pipe and also causi'n the nut to approach the head of the ho t and bring with it the other end of the metal strip until said metal strip is stretched tight upon the pipe. The ground wire '16 is then secured to the metal strip in any desirable manner as by soldering. The parts may be left in their clamping position without fear of their workin loose or becoming accidentally disengaged and the strong clamping efiect upon the metal band assures a firm metallic contact with the pipewithout appreciable electrical resistance.-

What I claim asmy invention is:

1. A. round wire connector, comprising a bolt, 2. exible metal strip with one end connected to the bolt, and a pair of plates on the bolt, one of the plates bein provided with a slot through which the rec end of engaged by the nut, and a pair of p the said end of the strip the strip may pass and be clamped between the. faces of the two'plates when the bolt is tightened to stretch the strip.

2. A ground wire connector, com rising a bolt, a nut threaded thereon, aflexi le metal strip having an opening in one end receiving the bolt, said end of the metal stri being ates on the bolt, one of the plates being provided with a slot, the free end of the strip being adapted to be carried around a ipe or the like and drawn through the s 0t of said plate and to pass out between thetwo plates, whereby the turning of the bolt will, cause to be clamped between the two plates and between the slotted plate and the pipe while the strip is tightened upon the pipe by the approach of the nut toward the head of the bolt.

3; A ground wire connector, comprising a bolt, a nut threaded thereon, a flexible metal strip having an o ening in one end to receive the bolt, sai end of the metal strip bearing against the nut, a metal plate having a transverse opening through which the bolt passes with its head partially entering said opening, and a second plate provided with a triangular shaped slot through which the bolt also passes, the end of the metal strip being adapted to be passed around an object with which connection is to be made and through the slot of the second plate and out between the two plates whereby the turning of the bolt in its nut will cause the strip to be clamped between the two plates and between the slotted plate and said obect.

3 A. A ground wire connector comprising a bolt, a flexible metal strip with one end connected to the bolt, and a pair of members on the boltbetween which the other end of the strip may pass and be clamped between said members when the bolt is tightened to stretch the strip.

In testimony whereof, I ailix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

FRANCIS ll MCKENNA.

"Witnesses R. S. C. CALDWELL, ANNA F. SCHMIDTBAUER. 

